cars
Cars imported into the U.S. face a 2.5% tariff rate.
9/14/2026
U.S. Import Tariffs on Cars
Standard Tariff: Cars imported into the U.S. generally face a 2.5% tariff based on the vehicle's value. This applies to most passenger vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, station wagons, and similar cars designed to carry people.
Where It's Made Matters: Cars from many countries can enter duty-free (no tariff) if they qualify under trade agreements. For example:
- Vehicles from Canada and Mexico that meet certain requirements under the USMCA (the trade agreement replacing NAFTA) can enter duty-free
- Cars from Australia, South Korea, and several other countries with U.S. trade agreements may also qualify for zero tariffs
Additional Duties in 2025: The current administration has imposed additional 25% tariffs on many imported vehicles under national security measures. However, cars from Canada and Mexico that meet USMCA content rules receive partial exemptions—only the non-North American content is subject to these extra tariffs. This means a USMCA-compliant car might face around 15% total in tariffs (depending on its content), while a non-compliant car from Canada/Mexico faces about 27.5% (2.5% base + 25% additional).
The bottom line: If you're buying a car made in North America that qualifies under USMCA, you'll typically pay little to no import tariff. Cars from other countries face the base 2.5% rate, plus potentially 25% more depending on current trade policies and where they're manufactured.